newbie reloader advice please

[lshines]

Gentlemen - I want to start reloading - particularly 357 - and Ronnie Wells has me stoked on the 360 cartridge - in my Ruger BH.
With y'all's vast experience, what press/complete kit would you recommend for a complete beginner?  

Thanks!

[Cholla]

Jun 15, 2024 8:23:09 GMT -5 lshines said:

Gentlemen - I want to start reloading - particularly 357 - and Ronnie Wells has me stoked on the 360 cartridge - in my Ruger BH.
With y'all's vast experience, what press/complete kit would you recommend for a complete beginner?  

Thanks!

For loading of handgun cartridges, I don't believe there's anything better than a turret press. You can go cheap with a Lee, expensive with something like a Redding, or middle-of-the-road with a Lyman. For many, many years I've been using an old Lyman ST 6-hole turret press. I keep thinking I'll replace it with their new All American 8 Turret Press, but you know what they say about things that aren't broke.

[contender]

This is a wide open question,, with all kinds of answers.

Many of us have decades of experience,, and have our preferences.

One thing not mentioned is your budget. You can spend a little or a lot.

I think many can agree that a single stage design is one of the best places to start. Yes,, a turret head type is a bit more versatile, but also costs more.

When asked by others about this,, I've always felt that a person who is planning on an activity that could involve potential dangers,, I suggest quality equipment,, and say to buy the best your budget will allow. Buy once,, cry once,, but never have regrets.

Since you mentioned a "kit" type,, I think many will agree that the RCBS equipment and even their kits are a very good place to start. I was on a tight budget when I started back in the 1970's and got a Lyman Spartan press. A few years later,, I found a used RCBS Rockchucker in a package deal,, and bought the package. Around about 1981. I still have that press,, use it,, and have never regretted it. I have since added a lot of equipment to my bench,, but there is always a place for a good quality, single-stage reloading press. And RCBS is a good quality product.

[iwsbull]

I will have to agree with Cholla on a turret press. I tried the single stage and it was not particularly to my liking for pistol rounds. I then went to an old 3 hole Lee I found cheap at a gun show then added a Lee Classic 4 hole and have been pretty happy with it. The dies stay set and it is easy to swap calibers and the old three hole has my sizing dies set up. While it is not as fast as a progressive press it moves at a pace that I can monitor and minimizes my chance of double charging a round still produce enough ammo for my style of shooting. YMMV

[AxeHandle]

+1 on the single stage and the RCBS Rockchucker. Bought mine 49 years ago and even though I have Dillon progressives set up on my bench, and a Turret press on the shelf, the RCBS single stage stays. Even if you upgrade to a progressive you will always need a good single stage for special tasks.

[x101airborne]

My stupid opinion: Everyone should start on a single stage press. Learn that one step at a time. Know it, live it, learn it; then move on to the next step. There are too many things going on when starting out. Although I have been loading since the 80's, there are still things I catch myself doing that I know are wrong and have to slow down and go back to correct.

Put a "want to buy" ad here on the forum. I bet someone here has a used good piece of equipment that could be had reasonably.

[1873coltguy]

I have a rcbs rock chucker and it fills every need that I have. I like the Lee carbide dies they come with everything you need including some load data. Spend some money on some reloading manuals they have some great information. I have the rcbs balance beam scale that has been great. I really hope you enjoy reloading it is a great way to unwind and spend some time.  The Lee factory crimp dies are great I find that it gives me consistent results. 

[silcott]

+1 on starting with a single stage.

I have single and turret. I might use the turret a couple times a year. But I use my single stages weekly.

On what brand. Buy what you're budget allows. I have Lee, RCBS, Lyman. I've never had any trouble with any of them.

[jeffh]

I agree 100% - best to start with a single-stage.

I agree 100% - best to start with a turret-press, treated like a single-stage.

Or, even a LEE hand-press.

I also agree that one could hardly go wrong with a Rock Chucker, or similar "higher-end," cast-iron press, because it will last forever and will always be useful...

BUT, I also believe that there is nothing wrong starting with an aluminum LEE, O-press either, because it will last forever and will always be useful - meaning that if you keep it clean and don't abuse it, and eventually "upgrade" to a heavier-duty cast-iron press later, that inexpensive O-press will never not be useful. You'll always find another task you prefer to do "offline" on a separate press. I use mine exclusively for sizing bullets and decapping large lots of brass at a time. I can leave it set up and pick at the chore as time allows, while not tying up my turret-press, which I use for all my actual handloading.

I've also been messing with a hand-press lately and it's just fun to use. Starting out, and especially with today's component prices, doing 20 to 50 cases at a time is just fine.

[edk]

Started off with a RCBS Rockchucker single stage starter kit around 1990 for pistol and rifle. I agree with the comments it is a really good way to start and was of top quality. As a pistol shooter found it slow so went the way of a Dillon progressive a couple of years later. My brother quickly convinced me to sell him the Rockchucker press (big mistake). Eventually got back in the market for a single stage and picked up a Lee classic cast single stage back when they were still sub-$100.

Observations after 35 years: a rifle shooter could make due with a single stage indefinitely while a pistol shooter will find that hard. As a pistol shooter owning the RL550 is good but I could probably be just as well served with a turret and the Lee classic 4-hole turret press seems to be a lot of bang for the buck while others may ultimately be of higher quality.

[sharps4590]

Before you even look at reloading equipment get yourself Lyman's current reloading manual and I am told "The ABC's of Reloading" is an excellent source. Read the first 1/3 of the Lyman book 3-4 times. I can't speak to the ABC's book as by the time it came out I'd been reloading 15 or so years BUT, many I respect recommend it. Anyway, read it a couple times THEN ask about equipment. You will at least know what to ask rather than "what should I buy?"

Don't depend on the idiotnet until you've acquired AND READ the books. You will save yourself a lot of grief.

[AxeHandle]

Work buddy bought a Dillon 750 with all the trimmings as his first loader... I still remember loading a round or two when I got my first press home. He has been holding this 750 for months and finally loaded something last week.

[bigbore5]

RCBS Rockchucker set.

[Encore64]

I'd highly recommend a Lee Classic (Iron) 4-Hole Turret Press. Take the index screw out and master the process as a single stage. Slap it back in as you progress and you can load much faster.

I've got everything from RCBS Single Stage to a Hornady Progressive Press. The Lee is my go to 90% of the time...

[Gunny268]

Posted by sharps4590

"Before you even look at reloading equipment get yourself Lyman's current reloading manual and I am told "The ABC's of Reloading" is an excellent source. Read the first 1/3 of the Lyman book 3-4 times. I can't speak to the ABC's book as by the time it came out I'd been reloading 15 or so years BUT, many I respect recommend it. Anyway, read it a couple times THEN ask about equipment. You will at least know what to ask rather than "what should I buy?"

Don't depend on the idiotnet until you've acquired AND READ the books. You will save yourself a lot of grief."



OP, as you can obviously tell from each of these fine gentlemen, reloaders/handloaders are most often an honest and generous bunch. Tho' sometimes they may display a little bias as to which press, or dies is best. That can also be a good thing because it's always based on each man's experience and knowledge in producing the ammo that they each desire.
Before spending a large sum of money, my first suggestion would be that you talk with some folks where you shoot. Find out if someone (he/she/they) might be agreeable to mentor you using their setup. That is, if you'll provide the makin's (brass, powder, primers, & slugs). Hands on familiarity with someone to guide you most often beats trying to figure it out on your own from a book or the Infonet.